Advanced Search on IMDb

Last updated: January 28, 2015 - 1:44pm EST

If your search is too vague or there are too many results to sift through, you can always do an advanced search. An advanced search allows you to use more options – as opposed to just using a keyword search – to pinpoint what you’re looking for.

To access the advanced search options, click the drop-down menu next to the search bar and select Advanced Search. You’ll be redirected to a page that allows you to choose what kind of advanced search you want to do.

Advanced Title Search and Advanced Name Search

These two search functions are used for when you’re trying to find an actor/actress or a movie title, and are having a hard time. Select Advanced Title Search to begin a search for a movie title.

Here you are given plenty of options to choose from. You can search for something by genre, the estimated release dates (between 2013 and 2014, for example), the title type (movie, TV show, documentary, etc), or many other criteria.

You can even search if it’s a colour film or black and white, or if you know the production company that filmed the movie. Fill out whatever information you know and select Search at the bottom.

You’ll see all the results that match your search.

Advanced Name Search works in much the same way, except the questions differ slightly. Instead, they ask questions about what films the actor/actress has starred in, their date of birth (can be rounded, like 1969 – 1973), their gender, and even their height.

Collaborations and Overlaps

Maybe you want to see what titles Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci worked on together? Or compare two films to see if anyone was involved in both productions? Collaborations and Overlaps Search allows you to do just that. Just select Collaborations and Overlaps to start your search.

You’ll be taken to a page where you can do one of two things: find common cast/crew between two titles, or find two people working together.

For common cast/crew, enter in two film names. For two people working together, enter in two actor/actress names. When you’re done, click Search underneath.

You’ll be redirected to your results page.

Title Text Search and Name Text Search

A Title Text Search is much like the regular keyword search, just a little bit more specific. Here you are able to add a keyword and search by a particular section – such as plot, trivia, quotes, filming locations, and more – to find a result.

More IMDB Tutorials

Support TechBoomers

TechBoomers offers free articles that teach people how to use technology to make their lives easier (and more fun!). To support our work, some of our content contains links to websites that pay us affiliate commissions when our users visit them through us and make purchases. Learn more about how this works.

Learn how to usepopular websites

Did you learn what you wanted to?

Was something in this tutorial missing, confusing, or out of date? Or did it give you all the information you needed, and you just want to say "thanks"? We'd love to hear what you thought!